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Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Detective and Criminal Investigator Salary

Detectives and Criminal Investigators earn a median $93,790 a year nationally. Protective Service Occupations

U.S. median
$93,790
$45.09 per hour
Range
$55,390 – $160,540
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
114,430
across the U.S.
▲0.2%
Pay trend: The median for detectives and criminal investigators in the U.S. rose from $93,580 (May 2024) to $93,790 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 2.2%.

What detectives and criminal investigators do

Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

Typical education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work experience
Less than 5 years
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
+0.2% (slower than average)
Openings per year
7,800

Employment of detectives and criminal investigators is projected to grow 0.2% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 7,800 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Detective and Criminal Investigator take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Detective and Criminal Investigator
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$74,811
per year · effective tax rate 20.2%
$6,234Monthly
$3,117Twice a month
$2,877Every 2 weeks
$35.97Hourly
  • Federal income tax$11,804
  • Social Security (6.2%)$5,815
  • Medicare (1.45%)$1,360
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$74,811

Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$55,390$26.63$46,686
25th percentile$69,330$33.33$57,604
Median (50th)$93,790$45.09$74,811
75th percentile$120,520$57.94$93,616
90th percentile (top earners)$160,540$77.18$120,995

Best cities for detectives and criminal investigators (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Washington, DC$156,750$108,049$99,2334,830
2Los Angeles, CA$127,890$89,352$78,6793,240
3San Diego, CA$124,840$87,591$78,2852,990
4New York, NY$106,440$78,471$69,7137,580
5Atlanta, GA$69,900$55,000$54,9683,070

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Detective and Criminal Investigator salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
District of Columbia $160,760—$110,449 $94,220 – $195,1902,980
Maryland $126,730+0.9%$92,179 $71,200 – $188,7001,010
California $124,840+2.2%$87,591 $78,280 – $165,51012,610
Delaware $122,050+38.1%$87,973 $65,830 – $164,510140
New Jersey $116,300+2.2%$85,429 $73,100 – $165,5703,080
Washington $115,790−0.6%$90,288 $84,500 – $162,8601,850
Alaska $114,940−5.1%$89,690 $79,680 – $183,680140
Hawaii $113,940+1.6%$81,857 $92,520 – $165,030440
Virginia $112,760+2.3%$82,487 $62,730 – $195,1903,180
Massachusetts $110,150−1.2%$81,033 $76,150 – $179,0301,300
Oregon $107,450+0.0%$75,849 $81,990 – $158,060520
Vermont $106,330+1.9%$79,076 $65,690 – $153,670190
Colorado $105,480+2.5%$79,102 $73,010 – $161,5501,930
Arizona $102,340−0.9%$78,476 $60,590 – $142,3805,250
New York $101,240−2.0%$75,119 $62,130 – $166,8009,600
Nebraska $100,530+1.5%$75,858 $68,900 – $155,210290
Pennsylvania $97,580−1.2%$74,482 $63,770 – $154,3603,370
Connecticut $95,240−0.2%$72,168 $78,990 – $130,540940
Nevada $94,470−1.2%$75,290 $60,920 – $152,480590
Montana $92,410−3.4%$69,980 $58,670 – $144,000500
West Virginia $92,410+1.9%$70,321 $48,450 – $171,250220
Illinois $91,190+1.6%$68,613 $53,960 – $157,0603,270
Wisconsin $91,040−2.0%$69,432 $70,060 – $103,1301,640
Michigan $90,650−2.1%$69,000 $71,590 – $164,6702,220
Texas $90,510+0.7%$72,504 $52,510 – $132,85018,870
New Hampshire $89,290−0.8%$71,646 $74,690 – $174,050290
Rhode Island $88,450−0.4%$68,355 $75,910 – $159,140360
Maine $88,310+9.4%$66,138 $63,290 – $120,430550
New Mexico $86,840+0.0%$66,998 $47,480 – $111,9702,020
North Dakota $82,290−2.7%$66,376 $58,350 – $129,230420
Wyoming $81,880+2.0%$66,433 $62,230 – $149,280170
Oklahoma $80,430+3.9%$62,339 $51,420 – $136,1201,220
Minnesota $80,000−2.8%$61,193 $59,710 – $115,2101,970
Iowa $79,560+2.7%$62,429 $58,930 – $141,650410
Ohio $79,300+1.7%$63,219 $56,840 – $151,2002,140
Utah $78,920+5.9%$61,765 $48,040 – $149,280550
South Dakota $77,730+0.4%$63,513 $60,210 – $149,280250
Tennessee $77,090+5.9%$63,063 $49,660 – $149,2801,860
Florida $77,060−1.6%$63,042 $50,050 – $162,4506,440
Kansas $75,740+11.1%$58,686 $49,610 – $114,0301,060
Missouri $75,650−3.8%$59,432 $49,190 – $151,7201,600
Idaho $72,520−6.4%$57,113 $53,120 – $125,550630
Kentucky $71,670−7.5%$56,859 $51,640 – $149,280720
Indiana $70,340−5.7%$56,269 $45,480 – $127,7901,280
Alabama $66,290+0.4%$52,395 $43,060 – $150,7801,340
Georgia $65,430+0.7%$51,980 $46,790 – $149,0305,070
North Carolina $63,280+1.3%$51,009 $50,260 – $137,5503,360
South Carolina $62,760−0.5%$49,999 $50,960 – $149,2801,470
Louisiana $60,450+1.6%$49,324 $39,020 – $131,7301,740
Mississippi $58,640+4.1%$47,684 $41,260 – $136,120810
Arkansas $54,500+1.9%$44,058 $41,380 – $144,890560

Frequently asked questions

How much does a detective and criminal investigator make?

The national median salary for detectives and criminal investigators is $93,790 a year ($45.09 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $55,390 and the top 10% earn over $160,540. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays detectives and criminal investigators the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $160,760. After taxes and local prices, Washington, DC offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many detectives and criminal investigators are there in the U.S.?

About 114,430 people work as detectives and criminal investigators nationwide.